SGVReptiles

General:

The genus Phelsuma consist of 66 species and sub species. They are found on  Madagascar and neighboring islands. Here they can live in the warm and humid highlands,like Phelsuma guimbeaui of the Marutius Island, or in the hot and dry Thorn bush savannas like Phelsuma mutabilis,Phelsuma modesta leiogaster and Phelsuma brevicipes do. The first species described was Phelsuma cepediana (Merrem,1820). It is now highly sought after in the reptile hobby. Their is supposedly more Phelsuma cepediana in captivity than in the wild.This is due to the rapid destruction of  its natural environment for homing development and agriculture which is eradicating a lot of the species and other non-Phelsuma species. The last two species to be described were Phelsuma vanheygeni and Phelsuma kely. These geckos are very fun geckos to keep in captivity.They make for nice display animals with their bright neon like colors,which is making them a popular pet in the reptile industry.

Caging:

Phelsuma require tanks that are taller than longer. They like tanks that they can climb around and explore as their very active geckos. A decent size cage for a pair of the smaller species(6 inches or smaller) is a 10 gallon vertical (messureing 20X12X10,HightXLengthXWidth).The larger species like Phelsuma standingi and Phelsuma madagascarensis sub species should be kept in tanks that are no smaller then 15 gallons (24X12X10,HightXLengthXWidth).These sizes are for breeding pairs,or can be used for a singel specimen.They require planted enclosures,with lots of horizontal and vertical bamboo,and plants that can hold their weight.A good plant to use is the Snake plant.It can hold their weight up with out breaking,and it makes for a nice place for  females to deposit their eggs in.Some geckos like Phelsuma brevicipes predominantly live in Eurphorbia stenoclada and should be given this plant to live in,as females will deposit their eggs in them.



Lighting:
These geckos require lights on for most of the day.A UVB light is highly recommended to use,though it is not 100% nessecary.They can be kept with out it,but with useing UVB lights you don't have to worry so much about supplementing vitamin D3,as they will get what they need from the UVB lights.They require a basking spot of 80-100 degrees Farenhight this can be achieved by a heat bulb or florescent light (Temperatures differ for each species),and require 20-90% humidty which can be acheived by a daily misting(also differing for each species).

Food:
They will all eat fruit mixtures like fruit baby foods and there are even specific diets made for them that come in powder form and when mixed with water,or baby food,they will lick it up.They will also eat insects like wax worms,meal worms,crickets and roaches of all assortments.Breeding females, if big enough, can eat feeders geckos,or pinkie mice for extra fat and calcium.

Sexing/breeding:
When sexing Phelsumas,it can be quite difficult to tell the sex.They can be sexed as young as 6 months,but usually only a trained eye can detect it.They  become sexually mature at about 10-12 months of age.To tell the difference between male and female is quite easy if you know what to look for.Males have a row of pores that can be seen with the naked eye.These pores are right above the the cloaca.They also have a slight bulge below the cloaca.Females lack both of these traits.


Once you find out what sex they are they can be paired up with the opposite sex.It is best to keep them in single pairs,as most get defensive and can harm or even kill the other gecko.They should be left together year round.They do not need any cooling,or separation for any period of time.If they were well off together,and then get separated they might not be the same as they were when you first introduced them.So it is best to keep them together at all times,providing that they were compatible in the first place.
When you first put them together,expect to see some chasing.The male will usually chase the female around biting her neck,shaking his head and tail,and vocalizing.The male will get behind the female and rub his head on her in a jerking motion from side to side.Then they will usually bite her neck and precede to mate with her. Once he has mated with her he may breed with her a few more times after that.You will not always see them breed,but you should suspect that they have. Expect too see some eggs with in 2 weeks to a month or so(sometimes longer) after breeding.They lay 2 hard shelled eggs and will usually lay them in a hallow bamboo or leaf of a plant(which should be provided for them).



Neonatal Care:
Neonatal geckos should be given the same requirements,just scaled down to fit them.Most of the hatchling Phelsumas can be kept in small tanks that are escape proof(no gaps bigger then 1/8 of an inch).A good cage for them that is cheap and common,is a large deli cup,with a mesh top. You can also use small tanks about 5 gallons or so. These make for nice hatchling enclosures,and should be given all the same requirements as the adults.They will usually start eating about 1 week after hatching.And usually reach sexual maturity at 10-12 months of age.